Trip from Flagstaff, AZ to Tanque Verde, AZ

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 55m

Distance

269.3 mi

433 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$54

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 42m ★

6 AM

4h 56m

8 AM

5h 23m

10 AM

5h 5m

12 PM

5h 3m

3 PM

5h 7m

5 PM

5h 22m

8 PM

4h 48m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Tanque Verde, AZ covers 269.3 miles and takes about 4h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Arizona Veterans Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Black Canyon Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 93.9 miles on Arizona Veterans Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.65 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

134.6 miles from Flagstaff, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 20m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 55m. Total distance: 269.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (21%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 55m drive with frequent turns across 269.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Arizona Veterans Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 93.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Milton Road.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 55m drive. You will face about 2 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Milton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 253.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

2 of 2 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Milton Road

Turn slight left onto South Milton Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

7

253.5 mi into trip | ~4h 25m in

Take the exit toward Grant Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 256 Toward Grant Road

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Arizona Veterans Highway	93.9 mi	1h 34m
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway	54.6 mi	55m
Black Canyon Freeway	38.4 mi	42m
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway	37.8 mi	38m
Maricopa Freeway	16.3 mi	18m
East Grant Road	7.2 mi	14m
East Tanque Verde Road	7 mi	12m
Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway	5.8 mi	5m

Longest stretch: Arizona Veterans Highway — 93.9 mi, about 1h 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Flagstaff, AZ and Tanque Verde, AZ.

1

Start on US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist

500 ft · 15 sec · West Historic Route 66

2

Turn slight left onto South Milton Road

1.8 mi · 4 min · South Milton Road

Use the straight / right lanes.

3

Continue on I 17; AZ 79

94 mi · 1 hr 34 min · Arizona Veterans Highway

4

Continue on I 17

5.8 mi · 5 min · Phoenix–Cordes Junction Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

5

Continue on I 17

10 mi · 10 min · Black Canyon Freeway

Use the straight / right lanes.

6

Continue on I 17

3.2 mi · 3 min · North Black Canyon Highway

Use the slight right lane.

7

Continue on I 17

28 mi · 32 min · Black Canyon Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

8

Continue on I 17; US 60

16 mi · 18 min · Maricopa Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

9

Continue on I 10

38 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

10

Continue on I 10

55 mi · 55 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

11

Continue on I 10

1.5 mi · 1 min · North Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Exit 256 Toward Grant Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.

13

Continue on North Freeway Road

481 ft · 10 sec · North Freeway Road

14

Turn left onto West Grant Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · West Grant Road

15

Continue on East Grant Road

7.2 mi · 14 min · East Grant Road

16

Turn left onto East Tanque Verde Road

7.0 mi · 12 min · East Tanque Verde Road

17

Arrive at destination

East Tanque Verde Road

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 134.6 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, or about 2h 20m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.9 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 59 miles or 1h 2m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 134.6 miles or 2h 20m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 51m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tanque Verde, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Flagstaff, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Flagstaff, AZ

This is one driving day of about 269.3 miles and 4h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Flagstaff, AZ.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Arizona Veterans Highway for about 93.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 134.6 mi from Flagstaff, AZ · 2h 20m into the drive

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Surprise, AZ

135 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Prescott Valley, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Surprise, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 134.6 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Tanque Verde, AZ

The final approach into Tanque Verde, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Tanque Verde, AZ.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Montezuma Castle National Monument

National Monument

Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 near mile 46.4

Caution: High Levels of Visitation

View on nps.gov

Saguaro National Park

National Park

Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are pr...

3 mi from route ~8 min detour $25 near mile 269.3

View on nps.gov

Walnut Canyon National Monument

National Monument

Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived and traveled throughout Walnut Canyon’s dynamic landscape. Vibrant communities built their homes in the cliffs and farmed along the canyon’s rim. T...

9 mi from route ~22 min detour $25

View on nps.gov

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

National Monument

An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...

11 mi from route ~29 min detour Free near mile 185.7

View on nps.gov

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

National Monument

The lava flow lies on the land like a dream, a wonderland of rock. A thousand years ago the ground was torn open and lava erupted into the sky, forever changing the landscape and the lives of the peop...

14 mi from route ~36 min detour $25

View on nps.gov

Tuzigoot National Monument

National Monument

Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary ro...

16 mi from route ~39 min detour $10 near mile 46.4

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$53.65 one way

$107.30 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 94 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.36	$56.78	$113.55
premium	$5.59	$59.28	$118.56
diesel	$5.61	$59.46	$118.92

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$54

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$79–$104

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 94.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	80.8	0	$28.28	$12.93
Efficient EV	67.3	0	$23.56	$10.77
EV Truck/SUV	107.7	1	$37.70	$17.24

Gas CO2

94 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Flagstaff, AZ

Afternoon in Flagstaff on Thursday

Local time

2:22 PM

MST

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tanque Verde, AZ

Afternoon in Tanque Verde on Thursday

Local time

2:22 PM

MST

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

10 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 55m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Tanque Verde, AZ covers 269.3 miles and takes about 4h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Arizona Veterans Highway, Casa Grande-Tucson Highway, Black Canyon Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 134.6 miles from Flagstaff, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $53.65 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This is a straightforward 4h 55m drive. You will face about 2 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Milton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 253.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Flagstaff, AZ to Tanque Verde, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Tanque Verde, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ

Plan the drive back the other way.

269.8 mi 4h 57m

Explore more options from Flagstaff, AZ or browse trips ending in Tanque Verde, AZ.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.

Explore maps for Flagstaff, AZ or Tanque Verde, AZ on MapSof.net.

Trip from Flagstaff, AZ to Tanque Verde, AZ

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Tanque Verde, AZ

National Parks Near This Route

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Saguaro National Park

Walnut Canyon National Monument

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Tuzigoot National Monument

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Flagstaff, AZ

Tanque Verde, AZ

Same local time

10 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 55m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More

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